Chimney cleaner



Sept. 4, 1928.

' C.-R. BICKFORD cH-IMNEY CLEANER Filed Feb. 21. 1927 gmnto'o Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,683,379 PATENT oFFlca.

CLARENCE R. BICKFORD, OF NORTHWOOI) NARROWS, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

CHIMNEY CLEANER.

Applicationled February 21, 1927. Serial No. 169,961.

ments, which are adjustable so that the op?" posite sides thereof may be brought into use.

The device is adjustable as a whole to fit chimneys or' flues of different sizes. The device is of simple construction, cheap to manufacture, and durable.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying m invention, showing the same applied in a c imney, g

Figure 2 is a plan view of the brushlng unit, parts being separated for the purpose of illustration,

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the brushing unit, parts broken away, portions of the bristles being omitted for the sake of clearness,

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4 4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a similar view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 3, and,

Figure 6 is a perspectiveview of one bracket section.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 des ignates a chimney or flue having an opening 11, removably receiving a pipe 12 or the like, whereby access may be had to the bottom of the flue.

Mounted upon the top of the chimney'or flue is a generally U-shaped bracket or support 13, embodying L-shaped bracket sections 14, rovided upon their vertical arms with horizontal extensions l5, at the top thereof, which are adapted to rest upon the top of the chimney. The U-shaped bracket 13 extends downwardly into the chimney, for a considerable distance. The vertical arms of the bracket' sections have elongated slots 17, receiving screws or nails 18 or the like, adapted to be driven in the mortar between the bricks. The horizontal arms of the bracket sections have elongated slots 19, adjustably receiving bolts 20, passing through the upper end of a casing 21, and serving to rigidly attach the same to the bracket sections. This, casing rotatably supports a pulley 22, arranged therein, and the top of the casing is closed thereby protecting the pulley from the action of rain or the like. Passed about the pulley 22 is an endless flexible element 23, in the form of a chain or the like.

The cleaning or brushing unit embodies a preferably rectangular frame 24, includingrods 25, bent upon themselves to provide corner members, having their endslongitudinally adjustably mounted within the ends of the tubes 26. These tubes are bent upon themselves to form corner members. The tubes and rods are clamped together, in adj ustment, by bolts 27, or the like. These rods and tubes are preferably circular in cross section. The heads or body portions of the cleaning or brushing elements are designated by the numeral 28, and each isv preferably formed of two or. more strands of wire twisted spirally together, and holding between them outwardly radiating'bristles 29, preferably formed of wire. The heads or body portions 28 are preferably ipeimanently bent into a spiral form, and as such, are adapted for mounting upon the telescoping rods 25 and tubes 26, and in this manner they are mounted upon the frame.

In order that these spiral heads or body portions vmay not turn upon the frame,.in operation, means are provided to clamp the same upon the frame, which means embodies a rectangular clamp designated as a whole by the numeral 30. This rectangular clamp includes rods orsections 31 and32, having pivotally connected eyes 33, arranged at the corners of the frame. The rods 31 have their free ends provided with apertured ears 33', for slidably receiving the screw-threaded ends of the rods 32, having no scrcw-thread 1 ed engagement therewith. The screwthreaded rods of the rods 32 carry nuts 34, by means of which the clamping frame may be contracted. This clamping frame has'its parts adapted to be arranged between the outwardly radiating bristles 29, for engagement -with the spiral head or body portion 28, to clamp the same to the frame 24. It

`might be stated at this point that when tlic sequently to which the clamping frame is 'l then employed to clamp the brush elements to the frame 24. The bristles 29 are ordinarily sufficient to prevent the lateral displacement of the clamping frame, but I contemplate employing S-shaped connecting elements 35, having outer eyes 36, to receive the elements 3l and and inner eyes 37 to receive the elements of the frame 24.

Arranged above and below the frame 24- are connecting devices, eaclrof which pret'- erably embodies a pair ot diagonally arranged bails 38, provided at their-ends with eyes 39, receiving the corners of the elements 25 and 26. These balls 'are connected at their crossing point and one bail is provided with an eye 39. The two eyes are connected with theends of the flexible elements 23.

In operation, the pipe 12 may be removed and access gained to the lower end of the flue 10. The operator pulls upon either run of the chain 13, and thereby raises or lowers the cleaning unit. The brushes act upon the inner Walls of the flue thereby removing the soot or the like which will fall to the bottom of the flue and may be removed. Any other suitable means may be employed to operate the chain. The device may remain permanently in the chimney or flue as it will not perceptibly interfere with the draft of the same. l

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that'various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A chimney. cleaner comprising a support embodying a plurality of sides, tubular brushing elements mounted upon said sides and adapted to turn thereon, and an adjustable clamping frame having sides corresponding in number and arrangement to the sides ofthe frame and adapted to engage with the tubular brushing-elements to prevent their turning movement, and means to move the frame.

2. A chimney cleaner comprising,r a support embodying a plurality of sides, tubular brushing elements mounted upon said sides and adapted to turn thereon, an adjustable clamping frame having sides' corresponding in number and arrangement to the sides of said frame and adapted to engage the tubular brushing elements to prevent their turning movement, means connecting ed to be turned upon its sidc of the frame whereby another portion may be shifted to the outer portion.

4. A chimney cleaner comprising a vertically movable trame having a pluralty ot' sides, said frame being generally horizontal in use, tubular brushing elements, the tubular brushing elements corresponding in number to the sides of4 the frame and mounted upon said sides and extending throughout thc major portion of the length of said sides.r 'I

cach tubular brushing element being adaped. to be turned upon its side of the frann` whereby another portion may be shifted to the outer position, and means to hold each tubular brushing element against turning movement upon its side of the frame.

5. A chimney cleaner comprisingfa substantially horizontal frame having a plurality of sides, said frame being generally horizontal in use, means to raise and lower the frame, a spiral brushing element arranged upon each side of the frame and extending throughout the. major portion of said side, Said brushing element embodying a spirally bent body portion and bristles carried thereby, the brushing element being adapted to be turned upon its longitudinal axis with relation to itsr side of the frame Whereby another ortion of the brushing element may be shiited to the outer position, and clamping means extending longitudinally of each side of the frame and adapted to engage the brushing element to hold the sanle against turning movement upon its side of the frame.

6. A chimney cleaner comprising a frame which is generally horizontal in use and embodies a plurality of sides, and tubular brushing elements receiving the sides therein, the brushing elements being adjustable about their longitudinal axes upon said sides for bringing other portions ofthe brushing element to the active posi-tion.

In testimony whereof l aflix my signature.

CLARENCE R. TSICKFORD. 

